The Wrestler (2008)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Darren Aronofsky

Writer (WGA):

Robert D. Siegel (written by)

Release Date:

30 January 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Love. Pain. Glory.

Plot:

A faded professional wrestler must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle.

Plot Keywords:

Professional Wrestler | Wrestler | Wrestling | Stripper | 1980s

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 30 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

Mickey Rourke	...	Randy
Marisa Tomei	...	Cassidy
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Stephanie
Mark Margolis	...	Lenny
Todd Barry	...	Wayne
Wass Stevens	...	Nick Volpe
Judah Friedlander	...	Scott Brumberg
Ernest Miller	...	The Ayatollah
Dylan Keith Summers	...	Necro Butcher (as Dylan Summers)
Tommy Farra	...	Tommy Rotten
Mike Miller	...	Lex Lethal
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	Admissions Desk Woman
John D'Leo	...	Adam
Ajay Naidu	...	Medic
Gregg Bello	...	JAPW Promoter Larry Cohen

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality/nudity, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:16 | USA:R (certificate #44697) | Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/16 | Brazil:14 | Singapore:R21 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:16 | Germany:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | New Zealand:R16 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-15 | Mexico:B15 | Denmark:15 | Austria:16 | France:U (with warning) | Iceland:14 | Chile:18

Filming Locations:

1230 East Linden Avenue, Linden, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Wild Bunch

Trivia:

Due to the film's modest budget, W. Axl Rose donated the use of Guns 'n' Roses' "Sweet Child O'Mine" free of charge for the final match.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the kids wake up Randy, he goes out of the van, the door closes without anyone closing it.

Quotes:

Randy 'The Ram' Robinson: What can I get for you, good-lookin'?
Touchdown Man at Deli Counter: Half pound of egg salad.
Randy 'The Ram' Robinson: HALF POUND OF EGG SALAD, COMIN' UP!
Touchdown Man at Deli Counter: Is it fresh?
Randy 'The Ram' Robinson: Fresh? Fresh as monkey's breath, brother!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "At the Movies: Summer Special 2008/09" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Stuntin' Like My Daddy

Wow!!!

I saw the movie at the world premiere in Venice and Mickey Rourke, Darren Aronofsky and other crew members were also in the audience. When the credits began, people were jumping out of their seats (including me) applauding and cheering for more than 15 minutes. It was really amazing. I have been a Rourke fan for 10 years now and to me Darren Aronofsky is one of the greatest directors of the last ten years. So when I entered the cinema my expectations were as high as never before. But this 40 Euro ticket was worth every cent. I never saw such a moving performance by "Sir Eddie Cook" who played Randy "the Ram" with such authenticity that I was paralyzed for almost two hours. And that's because Rourke isn't just playing "Ram", he IS "Ram", at least a part of him (there are many parallels to his real troubled past). Aronofsky really did a great job and really pushed the actors to their limits. It is amazing to see how a good director can turn such a simple story into one of the greatest movies I have ever seen (and I watch hundreds of movies). So everybody who grew up in the 80's with wrestling, hard rock and Nintendo or just loves movies should see this - at least ten times. God bless you Darren, Mickey and all the other crew members for the best cinema experience I have ever had. no doubt about it.